Machine for connecting electric conductors



(No Model.)

- H. J. SAVORYL;

MACHINE FOB. OONNEGTING ELECTRIC GONDUGTORS. No. 554,541.

Patented Feb. '11, 1896.

MJNUTD-UTNQWASHINGTotLDI.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARLIE J. SAVORY, OF SOMERVlLLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR CONNECTING ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,541, dated February 1 1, 1896.

Application filed April 17, 1893.

To otZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, HARLIE J. SAvoRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Connecting Electric Conductors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for connecting a small electric conductor to a larger one, and more especially an electric wire to the rail of a railway-track in an electric-railway system.

The connection between the conductors to be made by my machine is accomplished by upsetting the smaller conductor within the larger one; and the object of my present invention is to produce a machine having a frame clamped to the larger conductor provided with a support against which the smaller conductor is forced in order to upset it; to provide a clamping and holding device for the smaller conductor detachable from said frame, whichmay be used with or without the frame above mentioned; to provide the frame with guides within which the detachable clamping device may be guided when making the connection to insure a perfect connection. The invention is carried out substantially as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of m improved machine placed upon the rail of an electric-railway track in position to connect the wire to the rail. Fig. 2 represents a crossseotion of the machine on the line A B, shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents an end view of the machine, seen from X in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the clamping device for the small conductor, showing the same in position to make the connection without the use of the guide-frame. Fig. 5

represents a perspective view of the clamp- Serial N01 470,753. (No model.)

ing device for the smaller conductor and showing the wire firmly held thereby. Figs. 6 and 7 represent respectively a side and end elevation of a modified form of the clamping device for the smaller conductor.

Similar letters refer to similar parts whereever they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

The larger conductor a, represented upon the drawings as a rail of a railway-track, is provided with a perforation, as shown in Fig. 1, or with a recess, as shown in Fig. 4, within which the smaller conductor 1), represented on the drawings as a wire, is to be upset in order to connect the two conductors together. To this larger conductor the frame 0 is clamped by means of the screw 0 and hand-wheel 0 This screw is so arranged as to entirely cover the perforation in the larger conductor when the frame is clamped to the rail, and it forms a support against which the smaller conductor is pressed when upsetting it within the perforation in the larger conductor, as set forth hereinafter. I

01 represents a block provided with a groove d to receive the smaller conductor, as shown in Fig. 5, also with a cut-away portion, which, in combination with the independent clamping-j aw, forms the clamping-jaws d 61 which are screwed together by means of the screw (1 to firmly hold the smaller conductor while it is being upset within the perforation in the larger conductor by means of blows from a hammer or other instrument being applied to the block d or a projection 61 thereon.

The block 61 is dovetailed, as shown at d, which dovetailed portion fits within a correspondingly-shaped groove 0 in the frame 0 and properly guides the block while the smaller conductor is being upset, thus preventing the liability of having the block d move to one side and make an imperfect connection. By the use of the guide for the block the same is held in such a position that the small conductor is held in a line with the perforation in the larger conductor during the time that the small conductor is being upset, and thus makes a perfectly uniform and true connection. This allows of the employment of cheaper labor in forming the connection than when the connection is made by the block independent of the guides on the frame.

If it is desired to prevent the block cl from being withdrawn from the frame but still to give it sufii cient play within the guides to allow it to upset the small conductor I provide said block with the groove al (shown by dotted linesin Figs. 1 and 2,) and I also provide the frame 0 with a set-screw c, as shown, which is screwed through the frame 0 and enters the groove on the block cl forminga stop therefor.

The block (I, the clamping-jaws d cl and projection d form a hand-set in. which the small conductor is clamped. This handset is very convenient to be used in forminga con.- nection with an extra large conductor, such as the frog of a railway-switch. the smaller conductor to be connected in a recess on a blank wall, if so desired, or in. many other places where it is impossible to attach the guide-frame.

The frame 0 may, if so desired, simply form a support against which the smaller conductor is pressed in making the connection, and the guide-groove 0 may be dispensed with.

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular manner of constructing the clamping device forthe small conductor, nor to the particular style of frame used, as either may be changed within the scope of mechanical skill without departing from the spirit of my invention, which consists broadly in. the use of a hand-set in which. the small conductor is clamped while it is being upset within the larger conductor, which handset may be used with or without a guide-frame, also, in combination with said set, the employment of a. frame having a support against which the small conductor is upset and a guide within which the hand-set is guided to form a perfect connection between the conductors.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a modified form of the hand-set, in which the small conductor is clamped between the clamping-jaws D D by means of the tapering sleeve or ring D driven on the outer taperings-urface of said jaws. The sleeveD is split so as-to allow it to be removed from the smaller conductor after the connection has been made.

If it is desired to form a head or shoulder on the small conductor on either side of the larger one, it is only necessary to countersink the clamping-jaws d d" or the end of the supporting-screw c to the-desired form and cause the small conductor when upset to fill said countersinks.

The operation of my improved machine is asfollows: The small conductor is clamped within the clamping device on the hand-set in such a manner as to leave enough of the conductor projecting beyond the clamping,- jaws to entirely fill theperforation or recess in the large conductor and the countersink It also allowscess within the large conductor; the smaller is then driven or forced and upset within the perforation or recess by means of blows or pressure upon the hand-set, or by any other and well-known means to force the small conductor into the perforation in the l. rger con- ,ductor. The clamping-jaws on the hand-set are then releasedand the frame removed from the larger conductor, leaving the small conductor firmly attached to the large conductor.

The connectionformed. by myimprovedmachine is a very close one. and excludes all moisture from the meeting surfaces of the conductors, thus preventing the corrosion. of such surfaces and rapid destruction of the connection.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of my invention, Iwish to secure by Letters Patent and claim- 1'. In a machine for connectingasmall. electric conductor to alarger one, by upsetting one within the other, a handset having clamping device rigidly attached to the hand-set to clamp the small conductor and adapted to upset the same,.combined witha frame clamped firmly to the larger conductor provided with a support against which the smaller conductor is forced to upset the same, and with a guide to properly guide the hand-set to insure a perfect. connection. being made, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for connectinga small electric conductor to alarger one, by upscttinglone within the other, a handset having clamping device rigidly attached. to the hand-set to clamp the small conductor, and adapted to upset the same, combined with a frame clamped firmly to thelarger conductor provided with a support against which the smaller conductor is forced to upset the same, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for connecting a small electric conductor to a larger one by upsetting one within the other, a hand-set provided with a clamping device rigidly attached to the handset, for the purposev set forth.

4- In a machine for connecting a. smaller electric conductor to a larger one, by upsetting one within the other, a handset,.having clamping device rigidly attached to the handset to clamp the small conductor and adapted toupset the same, a. frame clamped firmly to the large conductor provided with a guide to properly guide the hand-set toinsure a. perfect connection being, made, combined withascrew screwed through the'frame and entering a groove in the hand-set to prevent the disconnection of the handset and frame, for

the purpose set forth.

5. In a machine for connecting asmall elecfeet connection being made, for the purpose tric conductor to a larger one by upsetting one set forth. 10 Within the other, ahand-set having clamping In testimony whereof I have hereunto set device rigidly attached to the hand-set to my hand this 26th day of July, A. D. 1892.

5 clamp the small conductor and adapted to up- HARLIE J. SAVORY.

set the same, a frame clamped firmly to the In presence oflarger conductor provided with a guide to HENRY OHADBOURN, I

properly guide the hand-set to insure a per- ANNA M. DOLLOFF. 

